The United Nations (UN) has issued a warning about the severe malnutrition crisis in the Gaza Strip, where nearly 80% of the population faces acute food insecurity, and 101,000 children could suffer from acute malnutrition by October 2026. The situation, exacerbated by restrictions imposed by Israel, limits the sustained entry of humanitarian aid and essential food supplies.
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UN denounces Israel’s delays amid winter crisis in Gaza
“To end this catastrophe, large-scale supply deliveries must be allowed, and humanitarian workers must be permitted to do their work,” stated Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The agency emphasized that, despite the ceasefire in effect since October 2025, humanitarian needs exceed current response capacity.
According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “needs are growing faster than aid is arriving,” highlighting the inadequacy of current flows. Although there has been a slight improvement in distribution since the ceasefire, with 67% of households receiving food and bread in November, only “basic survival needs” are being met.
"#Gaza remains in a man-made hunger crisis.
The latest report from @theIPCinfo underscores how fragile the gains have been since the ceasefire began in October. While #Gaza Governorate is no longer classified as being in famine, 1.6 million people still face high levels of… pic.twitter.com/q59BGjV7aO
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 19, 2025
The Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) revealed in August that half a million people—a quarter of Gaza’s population—were living in famine-stricken areas. The organization attributes the crisis to humanitarian restrictions, the forced displacement of more than 730,000 people, and the destruction of 96% of agricultural land, which is now inaccessible.
Furthermore, Israel has obstructed humanitarian aid access, violating the ceasefire agreement that stipulated the daily entry of 600 trucks. Arbitrary bureaucratic processes and restrictions on the passage of commercial and aid trucks have perpetuated the shortages. The UN and NGOs warn that their operations could collapse if these obstacles are not removed.
Data from the IPC indicates that among the 101,000 children aged 6 months to 5 years at risk of acute malnutrition by October 2026, more than 31,000 will present with severe cases. Additionally, 37,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women will require treatment for acute malnutrition. In all Gaza governorates, no child between 6 and 23 months meets the minimum dietary diversity requirements.
Winter is closing in on #Gaza.
Tents are collapsing under rain, children are freezing and exhausted families have nowhere left to go.
Humanitarians are delivering against all odds.
Restrictions must be lifted so we can reach more people before this winter claims more lives. pic.twitter.com/ti2OJFnu4P
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) December 13, 2025
The crisis has been exacerbated by recent winter storms, which flooded 55,000 homes and caused three child deaths from hypothermia in December, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Guterres reiterated his call for a lasting ceasefire, the immediate lifting of Israeli restrictions, and the removal of bureaucratic obstacles to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access.
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